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I’m drinking beer and eating potato chips in Sunny’s Bar, a rundown but charming watering hole in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Behind me, a bowtie-sporting man is leading a small but enthusiastic crowd in a game of Jeopardy. It’s all I can do to not shout the correct answers.

But in a few minutes, the game is done and the band begins to play. People crowd into the space and a battered tin is circulated to collect tips for the musicians.

What to do in New York: Art and music scenes a feast for the eyes and earsBack to video

Day 1 of my New York City trip, I think, is turning out rather splendidly.

While I’ve spent plenty of time in New York in my younger years, I had only returned once since 9-11. It’s time to dive back in and revisit old haunts, find new favourite places and see as much art and music as my extended long weekend would allow.

I am not disappointed.

Even our hotels have an art focus: The 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, where we spend the first two nights, is a cool, modern, well-appointed space that’s loaded with original art by local creators, walls of plants and eco-friendly reclaimed woods.

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There’s a great view of the Empire State Building framed by the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo, one of Brooklyn’s trendiest neighbourhoods. For New York Travel story by Shelley Boettcher. Photo credit: Shelley Boettcher

The next day, we fuel up on avocado toast and coffee at the hotel’s cozy Neighbors Café. Then we head to the Brooklyn Museum of Art, where Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving is on through May 12. By opening time, the lineups were long; buy tickets online in advance to save yourself time and disappointment. We were lucky and found ourselves in the first half-hour, so we could see her paintings and photos, as well as many of her famous dresses, jewelry, perfume, makeup, corsets and more.

A slice of amazing — and cheap — vegan pizza from a stand at the nearby subway fuels me for the afternoon, as we brave Canal Street. We’re not there to buy knock-off Prada or Kate Spade bags, though. We wade through the hordes of people to check out a temporary art exhibition, The New York Gallery Open. Organized by the New Art Dealers Alliance, it featured more than 50 shows from regional artists as well as works from as far away as Germany and Sweden.

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After the rush-hour crowds, we need down time, so we head back to our hotel to enjoy a glass of wine in our room at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. An oasis of calm after the chaos of the streets, it features beautiful views of the sunset over Manhattan. The only sounds we can hear are the ferry horns and the occasional bird.

But we didn’t come to the Big Apple to sit in the room all night. There are concerts to see! Bands to hear!

Depending on the show, it isn’t easy or inexpensive to score last-minute tickets for The Metropolitan Opera. As an out-of-towner, your best bet may be the $25 rush seats, offered online the day of the performance. For $30 a person, you can also sign up for a backstage tour, held only during the performance season.

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It’s a must for opera fans; last year, legendary singer Placido Domingo — on stage again this spring — celebrated the 50th anniversary of his Met debut. He’ll perform in La Traviata in April.

Then there’s City Winery, literally an urban winery (they get the grapes from other parts of the country) that also features a strong music program featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Amy Helm, Norah Jones and Procol Harum. We score the best seats in the house for John the Martyr, and after a couple glasses of Pinot Noir, we’re up dancing with the crowd.

After a couple nights in Brooklyn, we head to Manhattan for a stay at the Quin Central Park by Hilton Club. Built in the 1920, the Quin is a two-minute walk from Carnegie Hall and Central Park and, in an earlier incarnation, was home to painters Georgia O’Keefe and Marc Chagall for a time.

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Even some of the hotels feature original art. The Quin Central Park by Hilton Club features original art throughout the hotel. Just one: Hiding by Berlin-based graffiti artist Alias, on view on the Quin’s ninth floor.Shelley Boettcher/PNG

Now the Quin features quarterly exhibitions in its public spaces, as well as special packages with the Museum of Modern Art. French-Senegalese photographer Delphine Diallo’s work will be on view starting Mar. 21; previous shows have included graffiti artist Blek Le Rat and the late photographer Slim Aarons. Pieces from past exhibitions can still be seen throughout the hotel.

From the Quin, you’re a short distance to many of the city’s top galleries and we hit as many as we can. MoMA is a must, with its permanent collection that includes Joan Miro, Constantin Brancusi and so many others; even kids will love the vintage design exhibition.

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The art of Andy Warhol is on view until Mar. 31 at the Whitney Museum of American Art, but the legendary New Yorker’s influence — and select works — can still be seen at galleries throughout the city.Shelley Boettcher

Then there’s the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has a phenomenal collection of Andy Warhol work on view until Mar. 31. The gallery’s permanent collection, however, is equally wonderful and the Whitney Biennial will take place May 17 to Sept. 22.

We time our visit for the annual Armory Show, which features top art and artists from galleries around the world. The crowd is eclectic, connected and interesting, and so is the art. By the time we leave, we’re talking about coming back next year.

Our last night in town, we wander to Greenwich Village. I’ve always wanted to see Café Wha?, started as a coffeehouse by David Lee Roth’s uncle in the 1950s. Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix got their big breaks here. Bruce Springsteen played here, and so did Lou Reed, Kool and the Gang and so many others. Our waitress sweet-talks us into a bucket of beer and burgers, and before long, we’re up dancing and clapping, as the incredible house band takes over the stage.

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Tomorrow, we fly home but for now, time stands still.

Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell and Bruce Springsteen are just a few of the artists who have played the stage at the legendary Cafe Wha? in Greenwich Village.Shelley Boettcher/PNG

Five things to know before you go

• We took the train from Newark Airport, then the subway to our hotel, which took about an hour and cost roughly $20 per person. It was safe, fast and efficient, with lots of people around to ask for assistance. A similar route by taxi would have been $100 or more.

• Visiting New York City for the first time? Consider a New York CityPass. While you have to pay up-front for the pass, you then get discounts or free admission to many of the city’s top tourist attractions, including the Empire State Building, the Guggenheim Museum, all three Metropolitan Museum of Art locations and ferry access to the Statue of Liberty.

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• A one-way subway ticket costs about $2.75 US. Save money and buy an unlimited Metro Card; a seven-day pass costs $32 per person. We justified the expensive in the first three days of travel.

• Looking for a deal on airfare? We scored direct flights from Calgary to Newark, New Jersey on Expedia for $400 apiece, including taxes. There are also two airports within New York City: LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy, both located in Queens.

• The new Hudson Yards development opens this spring and includes The Shed, the city’s newest arts centre as well as Vessel. The interactive art piece was created by Thomas Heatherwick; it’s made of 154 flights of stairs and rises from the ground like a giant metal honeycomb.

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